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Chapter Two
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Although he found her to be a sweet distraction, he wished Ziva hadn’t interrupted his conversation with the manager yesterday. The hotel manager wasn’t the man in charge, but he was the only contact he had. Alex had hoped to encourage the manager to let him speak to his boss right away; he wasn’t one who liked waiting around. Since that conversation hadn’t taken place, he was now stuck in a hotel room, waiting for the manager to “deliver the goods.”
Recalling how coldly the man had spoken about the women he could choose from infuriated Alex, but it was more than that. He would like to take a match and burn the hotel to the ground. This hellhole was the same place his father had come all those years ago. His own mother had been one of the women mistreated, sold as a possession instead of a person. How many contemptible men had ignored the evil that occurred here?
He’d wanted to know why his father had been the man he was. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined such sick and evil behavior. More than thirty years later, the Henderson name still caused people to tremble. Had his father returned here throughout the years, used more young girls, then simply tossed them aside? I thought growing up under his thumb was bad enough. I guess we had the best of him, which doesn’t say much. I can’t think anything good about him at all.
Alex couldn’t help but think how his sister, Zoey, would feel if she knew what their father had done. He wasn’t sure Bennett would share that type of knowledge with her. Alex knew Bennett loved his sister, and telling her the truth would cause more pain than she could handle in her condition.
Zoey must’ve suspected something; their father treated her differently from the boys. Although he hated them all, which he had no qualms reminding them, James had honed a deep resentment for Zoey. It was one Alex didn’t understand until now. Having to raise a female, when he viewed them as worthless property, must’ve pissed him off. What Alex still needed to know was why he’d have children at all. He didn’t love us, and we sure as hell weren’t conceived in love, so why the fuck do it? Why keep us? Were there more he hadn’t kept?
These weren’t answers he could find here. With James dead, they’d probably never know. That didn’t mean he’d stop searching, and that was something he’d need to do himself, not with Bennett.
Alex and Bennett traveled the last leg of the trip separately with Bennett flying on a commercial flight. Weapons wouldn’t have made it through the airport. That meant he and Bennett had to touch base so his backup would be armed and ready. Without anyone seeing them was going to be very difficult. This town was a close-knit community, and not much happened without being observed by someone. So much so they had to stay at different hotels. Alex laughed softly. Not sure Bennett considers his lodging a hotel or a barn.
He didn’t feel too bad. Alex hadn’t asked him to come, so whatever accommodation Bennett suffered through wasn’t his concern. Making the people here believe he was like his father was his first priority.
Alex couldn’t help but think back to the look on Ziva’s face. She pretended she hadn’t known his name, but he saw it in her eyes. Pure disdain. He understood why. James had given these people reason to hate him. Bennett spent hours updating Alex on everything he’d learned to date. Alex thought it couldn’t get worse, but it did.
At one point, Alex had contemplated having the pilot turn the jet around, and flying back to Boston. Not because he was a coward. If anything, each new fact fueled his drive to move forward. He felt worse for one brother more than the others. Logan’s mom had died birthing him. Bennett had reminded him of the big picture. It wasn’t just one woman or one mother. The purpose of the expedition was to stop the evil still taking place in Tabiq. It was bad enough thinking it was only his father abusing the women of Tabiq, but this was much worse than he imagined. Knowing it was still happening today, outraged him. Even if he stopped it all, the families affected deserved some reparation.
Although it made him sick, he needed to keep that in mind. Anyone who approached him could potentially be involved in the human trafficking ring. The policy of innocent until proven guilty wasn’t going to fly. From what they knew, the level of corruption was so deep it wouldn’t break easily.
This area wasn’t the first place he’d been that was evil and corrupt, but it sure as hell was the worst. Typically, he took time to seek decent people and befriend them. There was no time for that now. He needed to keep his distance from the locals, getting deeper involved than he already was would only hinder his efforts.
His mind wandered back to the intriguing woman he met yesterday. Ziva might have thought she was stealthy, but he’d picked up on her tail in that ratty old pickup truck at the airport. She had surprised him when she’d decided to follow him inside the hotel and had practically thrown herself at him. He wasn’t foolish enough to trust her, but he didn’t take her as a real threat either. I hope that’s not a mistake.
It wouldn’t be the first tale of a man being taken down by a stunning woman. And that she was. He’d lain awake last night, haunted by thoughts of her. He couldn’t explain it, but he’d been instantly drawn to her. There was nothing about her he’d ordinarily find attractive. His preferred taste had always been blonde hair, and her hair was so dark it was almost black, reminding him of starling wings. The women he dated were tall with large breasts, not always real, but large nonetheless. Ziva was at least eight inches shorter than he was, and her small breasts matched her petite frame. Yet she had stood in front of him with such confidence he found it sexy as hell.
Logically he knew he should’ve let the manager throw her out on her ass. Instead, he handed over the key that was supposed to be for whoever they were going to bring him. Now he had no place for the other woman except in his room. It’ll look more the part, but damn, I don’t like this. Not one bit.
The air conditioner made a constant hum, drowning the outside noise. It also was impossible for him to hear if Ziva had taken him up on his offer and utilized the room. The taxi driver had informed him this was one of the best places in town because it had air conditioning. With the sweltering heat, he couldn’t imagine she’d refused. Even if she didn’t like him, a few days of relief from this one-hundred-five-degree temperature would appeal to anyone. And it gives her the opportunity to keep a close eye on me.
Alex pictured what Bennett would say if he knew what he’d done. When they parted ways, Bennett made it clear that under no circumstances should he deviate from the plan. Alex hadn’t finished checking in, and their plan had already gone to hell. Guess that’s because I don’t answer to Bennett. Haven’t answered to anyone in a very long time.
He heard the SAT phone that Bennett gave him ring, no need to check the caller ID.
“What’s up?”
“Have they delivered her yet?”
Alex would like to correct Bennett, but his terminology was right. The girl wasn’t coming on her own accord. “No.”
“When do you expect her?”
“I was interrupted when speaking to the manager.”
“What does that mean?” Bennett asked.
“Simple. We didn’t finish the conversation.” Alex saw no reason to go into details.
“Unless you enjoy baking in this god-awful heat, I suggest you handle that now,” Bennett said, sounding aggravated.
“Heat’s not bothering me one bit,” Alex said, leaning back on the couch and smiling. He knew it was wrong, but he took pleasure knowing Bennett’s accommodation didn’t have AC.
“Good, then you wouldn’t mind meeting me. You have what I need.”
